Berks' Best 2018 social studies scholarship winner: Michael McDowell, Berks Catholic High School

Global health access and social issues will be his future pursuit.

About Michael

School: Berks Catholic High SchoolParents or guardians: Craig and Deidre McDowell.Awards and honors: Governor's School for Global and International Studies graduate; selected attendee of Lafayette's Our Beloved Community diversity seminar; national qualifier public forum debate (fifth place); extemporaneous speech at qualifier (second place); national qualifier for extemporaneous speech.Activities highlights: National Honor Society (president); student ambassador; Governor's School for Global and International Studies; Habitat for Humanity; JDRF Walk to End Type 1 Diabetes (team leader).Career or life goal: My dream career would be to work with the United Nations in the fields of diplomacy and language. I would like to work on developments within the Israel-Palestine conflict and to become involved in large-scale service efforts, particularly in the area of public health.Post-high school plans: I will attend a four-year undergraduate university to study international relations and Arabic. I plan to pursue multiple foreign languages and to hopefully conduct my study abroad in the Middle East.What others are saying: “His innate sense of justice and keen understanding of the complex forces that move society forward fuel his thirst for knowledge.” — Lora Hoffman, AP government teacher, forensics coach

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The 18-year-old Berks Catholic senior hopes to work someday as a diplomat for the United Nations, with a focus on the Middle East.

To prepare for a career in international diplomacy, he competed in the forensics club, which requires participants to write and deliver extemporaneous speeches on selected topics. At club competitions, competitors don't know the topics ahead of time and are given just 30 minutes to get ready.

"The only preparation I can have is to be as up-to-date on global politics as possible," McDowell said.

Last summer, he attended the Pennsylvania Governor's School for Global and International Studies, held for four weeks at the University of Pittsburgh.

In the program, which had 59 other high school students from across the commonwealth, McDowell took daily classes in Arabic and world events.

For his commitment to studying global politics and his desire to use that understanding for the betterment of society, McDowell has earned the top social studies honors in Reading Eagle Company's annual Berks' Best scholarship project this year.

Lora Hoffman is McDowell's teacher in Advanced Placement government, as well as his coach for forensics. She said that he has an intense intellect and a passion for social justice issues.

"Michael often brings out aspects of international affairs that his classmates do not even consider," Hoffman said.

McDowell plans to attend Colgate University in the fall to study international relations and Middle Eastern studies. He wants to continue learning Arabic and said that he's excited to take courses in economics.

"I'm definitely looking forward to having a cooperative learning environment, similar to the one I had at the governor's school," he said.

In addition to diplomacy, McDowell has big hopes for improving global health care.

He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes about seven years ago. He said that for people living with the disease in developing nations, the diagnosis can be a death sentence due to insulin shortages, a lack of clean supplies and poor medical facilities.

McDowell empathizes with those who don't have access to high-quality medical care.

"I'm really fortunate to have that access," he said. "I think that's really what's driven a lot of my interest in global health and social issues around the world."

About Michael

School: Berks Catholic High SchoolParents or guardians: Craig and Deidre McDowell.Awards and honors: Governor's School for Global and International Studies graduate; selected attendee of Lafayette's Our Beloved Community diversity seminar; national qualifier public forum debate (fifth place); extemporaneous speech at qualifier (second place); national qualifier for extemporaneous speech.Activities highlights: National Honor Society (president); student ambassador; Governor's School for Global and International Studies; Habitat for Humanity; JDRF Walk to End Type 1 Diabetes (team leader).Career or life goal: My dream career would be to work with the United Nations in the fields of diplomacy and language. I would like to work on developments within the Israel-Palestine conflict and to become involved in large-scale service efforts, particularly in the area of public health.Post-high school plans: I will attend a four-year undergraduate university to study international relations and Arabic. I plan to pursue multiple foreign languages and to hopefully conduct my study abroad in the Middle East.What others are saying: “His innate sense of justice and keen understanding of the complex forces that move society forward fuel his thirst for knowledge.” — Lora Hoffman, AP government teacher, forensics coach